Apparatus for sampling flowing streams



April 1953 D. H. MCKINNEY EI'AL 2,636,387

APPARATUS FOR SAMPLING FLOWING STREAMS Filed July 19, 1951 2srms'rs-sx-mm 1 SAMPLE RECEIVER PIPE LINE INVENTOR.

' David H.McKinney, William A. Harris,

A NT.

April 28, 1953 D. H. M =K|NNEY EIAL 2,636,387

APPARATUS FOR SAMPLING FLOWING STREAMS AGENT.

Patented Apr. 28, 1953 IJNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FORSAMPLING FLOWING STREAMS Application July 19, 1951, Serial No. 237,536

4 Claims.

The present invention is directed to apparatus for obtaining a liquidsample from a flowing stream. More particularly, the invention isconcerned with apparatus for obtaining samples from pipe lines in whichliquid, such as gasoline, crude oil and the like, are being pumped underpressure.

The apparatus of the present invention may be described briefly asincluding, in combination, a circulating pump and a flow regulatingpump, each having an intake port and a discharge port. A first conduitis connected to the intake port of the circulating pump and is adaptedto be connected to the flowing stream which may be a high pressure pipeline in which crude oil is being pumped. The apparatus includes also asample receiver having a piston member arranged therein which dividesthe sample receiver into upper and lower chambers; the volume of each ofthe chambers is changed as the position of the piston is changed. Asecond conduit connects the discharge port of the circulating pump to alower end of the sample receiver while a third conduit connects theintake port of the flow regulating pump to an upper end of the samplereceiver. A sample container is connected to the lower end of the samplereceiver by a fourth conduit. A fifth conduit connects to the secondconduit and in turn may be connected to discharge into the flowingstream. A sixth conduit connects to the discharge port of the flowregulating pump and to thefifth conduit. Injection means are providedfor introducing a clean liquid into the sample receiver and into theupper chamber above the piston member. v

The injection means may be made integral withthe apparatus and mayinclude a filterin means which will allow a portion of the liquidwithdrawn from the flowing stream to provide the clean liquid forintroduction into the upper end of the sample receiver.

It is also contemplated that a mixing means which may include a mixingtank with a mixin device arranged therein may be arranged between thesample receiver and the sample container. The mixing means allows theentire sample to be mixed to overcome any possible settling out of heavycomponents. The purpose of the mixing means is to allow one continuoussample to be taken for each batch of liquid being sampled during anentire period of pumping, or-ior' each 251101118, The receiver isemptiedeach24 hours, or'at end of pumping period.

1 lt is contemplated that the apparatus includ 2 ing the severalconduits will be provided with flow regulating means, such as valves andflow resisting means, such as check valves, which will allow flow ofliquid in one direction on settin at a predetermined pressure and whichwill resist flow of liquid in another direction.

The invention will be further illustrated with reference to the drawing,in which Fig. 1 is an isometric view of the apparatus of the presentinvention;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the apparatus showing it arranged in a housingtherefor;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the sample receiver of Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the mixing and accumulating tank of Figs.1 to 3; and

Fig. 5 is a view of an embodiment in which the clean oil for the samplereceiver is obtained from an exterior source.

Referring now to the drawings, in which identical numerals will beemployed to identify identical parts, numeral II designates acirculating pump and numeral I2 designates a flow regulating pump. Theapparatus includes a sample receiver I3, a sample container I4, and amixing tank I5. The circulating pump II is provided with an intake portI6 which is adapted to be connected to a flowing stream in pipe line I!by a first conduit I. The discharge port I8 of circulating pump II isconnected by a second conduit 2 to sample receiver I3. Second conduit 2has arranged therein adjacent the lower end of sample receiver I3 athree-way valve I9, the function of which will be described in moredetail hereinafter. The flow regulating pump I2 is connected to theupper end of sample receiver I3 by a third conduit 3 which connects to avent pipe 20 containing a valve 2 I. Conduit 3 connects to intake port22 of flow regulating pump I2.

Thesample container I4 is connected to sample receiver I3 by a fourthconduit 4 in which is arranged a valve 23 for controlling the flowtherethrough. The conduit t connects to a conduit 24 which in turnconnects to the sample container I 4 and is adapted to discharge thecontents thereof into a sump, not shown. The conduit 24 is provided witha valve 25. It will be noted that the sample container III is providedwith an over-. flow pan or cup 26 which is an enlarged portion adjacentthe top end thereof. The sample container I4 is also provided with a petcock 26a which allows withdrawal of a spot sample at an intermediatepoint from sample container I4. for centrifugaltests and thelike. Theoverflow pan or cup 26 has a conduit 21 for discharging the overflowfrom container I4 into conduit 24 and thence to the sump, not shown.

The second conduit 2 has a fifth conduit connected thereto which in turnis connected to a test gauge 28 for registering the pressure in conduit5. Conduit 5 has arranged therein a check valve 29 which is set at apredetermined pressure to allow flow of fluid therethrough. The conduit5 discharges into pipe line ii. The check valve 29 will allow flowthrough conduit 5 into pipe line I? but will resist flow from pipe lineI? into conduit 5 and thence into conduit 2.

The flow regulating pump l 2 has an outlet port 39 to which is connecteda sixth conduit 6 which then connects in turn to conduit 5 allowing thedischarge from the flow regulating pump 36 to discharge into conduit 5and thence into pipe line 5? with a portion of the discharge from pumpiI.

The apparatus or the present invention may include a filtering means 3iwhich may be of conventionaldesign and may contain a filtering mediasuch as horse hair felt, cellulosic material, asbestos, cloth, othervegetable fibers and the like which will serve to remove solid foreignmaterial, such as rust, dirt and the like, from the oil withdrawn frompipe line H. The filter 3! is provided with a cover 32 for easy accessthereto and for replacement of the filter. The filter 31 is connected toconduit 3 by a seventh conduit '5 in which is arranged a check valve 33which will allow flow through conduit 1 into conduitii but will resistflow from conduit 3 intothe filter 3|. Connected to the filter 3i and toconduit 5 is an eighth conduit 3 in which is arranged a check valve 3 2-which allows flow from conduit 5 to conduit 9 which connects to filter3i but will resist flow from conduit 9 to conduit 5. Check valve 35 isarranged to allow fiow of liquid from conduit 5 to flow into conduit 3at a predetermined pressure. 35 which may be opened to establishcommunicationbetween conduit 8 and filter 3 I.

Branch line or conduit 36 connects conduit 2 with conduit 4. This line35 is provided with a valve means 37 which may be opened to establishcommunication between conduit 2 and conduit 4 as will be describedfurther.

It will be noted that conduit I is provided with a test gauge 38 toindicate pressure of the stream flowing from pipe line I? throughconduit I to pump II.

The mixing tank I5 connects into conduit 4 by a conduit or line 50,which connects to line 4 between valve I9 and valve 23.

Pumps I I and I2 are operated by a single prime mover 39 which maysuitably be an electric or gasoline motor; preferably an electric motor,is employed. Th prime mover 39 is provided with a drive wheel 39a onwhich is arranged belts or chains 40 which serve to drive drive wheels4| and 42, respectively, of pumps II and I2.

Referring now to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the apparatus of thepresent invention may be arranged in a housing 50 provided with a door5i which is SWung on housing 58 by hinges 52. This door may be opened byhandle 53. Arranged in a lower portion of the housing 50 defined by across piece 54 and bottom 55 are pum II and I2 and motor 31,whereasrarranged in the upper portion of the housing 59 defined by thecross piece 54 and the top thereof 58 are the sample receiver I3 andsample container I4 as well as mixing tank I5. The conduits connectingthese Various elements are not shown in this view.

Conduit 9 is provided with avalve means The housing 50 may be suitablyarranged on legs 64.

Referring now to Fig. 3, it will be seen that a piston 10 divides thesample receiver I3 into upper chamber II and into a lower chamber 72which are sealed one from the other by providing a sealing means such asO-ring is on. piston Ill. The upper chamber 'lI is suitably filled witha clean oil which may be the filtered oil while the lower chamber I2contains the material sampled as will be described further.

A detail sectional view of the tank I5 is shown in Fig. 4. As shown, thetank I5 is provided with a handle 51 which connects by rod 58 to mixingplates 59.

Referring now to Fig. 5, a modified embodiment of our invention is shownin which the filter 3| and its attendant conduits are eliminated. Thismay be achieved by providing a tank in which a body of clean oil isarranged which may be an oil which it is desired to pump down the pipeline along with the pipe line oil and may suitably be a gas oil,lubricating oil, or gasoline and the like. Tank communicates withconduit3 by a conduit BI in which is arranged a pump 82. Conduit 8| is alsoprovided with a valve 83 to isolate the conduit BI from the thirdconduit 3. It will be noted in thi embodiment of our invention that theconduits "i, 8, 9, and filter 3| are eliminated. Also the check valvetllin conduit 8 is not needed. It will be noted further that the conduit 6connects directly into conduit 5 which in turn connects to the pipelineI'I.

The apparatus of the present invention operates as follows: Assumingthat it is desired to take a sample from the pipe line H, the pistonmember iii in the sample receiver I3 is in the bottom of the samplereceiver I3, the piston member being shaped at its lower end to conformwith the interior lower endo f the sample receiv-Q er I3. In the upperchamber II is a body of clean oil which may be a portion of the oil frompipe line I? which has been passed through the filter 5i. The operationis started by energizing motor 31 which causes pumps. and I2 to onerate. Pump II takes suction through conduit I, on pipe line I? andpumps oil through conduit 2 into the sample receiver I3 below the pistonIll. The flow regulating pump I2 takes suction by line 3 on the clean.oil in the upper section of the sample receiver at a predeterminedrate; by virtue of controlling the output from the sample receiver bymeans of the flow regulating pump I2 it is possible to controlfiowthereinto through conduit 2. The check valve 29 in conduit 5 has beenset to operate at a predeterminedpre'ssure and to discharge a majorportion of the oil flowing through conduit 2 back into pipe line H.through conduit 5. In short, a major portion of. the oil is dischargedback through the pipe line H while a minorv portion passes throughconduit 2 and valve IS of the sample receiver I3 regulat ed by theamount of. clean oilwithdrawnby conduit 3i and pump E2. The dischargefrom flow regulating pump I2 flows through conduit 6 into conduit 5 andthence back to pipe line H.

Once the sample receiver I3 has been filled the valve I9 is manipulatedto allow fiow in the direction indicated by the curved arrow whichcauses, flowinto line I5a andv mixing tank I5, valve 23 in conduit 4being in the closed position. With. three-way valve iii in such positionthat flow is allowed only through line 5 and line I 5:; toinix ing tanklii, thepressure exerted by circulating pump I I throughline 2,- line5,-line 8,-line .9, filter renames? 15, valve 19 is further manipulatedto allow normal flowlas indicated by the straight arrow into samplereceiver l3.

Check valve 29 is a throttling type check valve providing a differentialpressure of. approximately 15 lbs. acting on the underside of piston 10.This pressure differential will overcome the weight and friction ofpiston and will force it upward as sampling pump l2-removes theregulated amount of filtered. oil from chamber H, thus allowing sampleto accumulate in chamber 12.

After the sampling period has been completed and the complete sample hasbeen displaced into mixing tank I5, the contents thereof maybethoroughly mixed by manipulation of handle in an up-and-down directionto cause thorough mixing of the contents thereof. Then the contents ofmixing tank 15 may be gravitated into sample container 14 by openingvalve 23 in conduit 4, the valve in conduit 24 being in closed positionand three-Way valve l9 allows the clear stream from conduit 2 to flow toreceiver I3. A suitable hydrometer may be inserted or maintained in thesample container l4 to determine the gravity of oil therein, the excessof the sample being allowed to overflow into overflow pan 26 and thenceby conduit 21 into conduit 24 and to the sump, not shown. Suitably, ifdesired, the sample in sample container l 4 may be discharged intobarrels or another sample container by opening valve 25, valve 23 beingmeanwhile closed.

If it is desired to obtain a spot sample for determining any test thismay be done simply by opening valve 31 in conduit 36 which will allow aportion of the discharge from conduit 2 to flow directly into conduit 4and thence by conduit 24 into sample container I 4. Of course, when aspot sample is taken valve 23 will be in a closed position. Thus, a spotsample may be obtained while filling sample receiver l3 as has beendescribed.

Referring to the operation of the embodiment of Fig. 5, this embodimentoperates in a similar way to that of Fig. 4 with the exception that thepump 82 is designed to pump at a faster rate than the pump I2 which willallow clean oil to be withdrawn from tank 80 through conduit 8| andthence by opening valve 83 to conduit 3 to sample receiver l3 as hasbeen described.

In operating the apparatus of the present invention, when pipe line I!contains a flowing 6 change the setting of 'the:various check valves toallow the apparatus to function properly.

The nature and objects of the present invention having been completelydescribed and illustrated, what we wish to claim as new and useful andto secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus adaptedv for obtaining a sample from a flowing stream to besampled which comprises, in combination, a circulating pump and a ,flowregulating pump each'havin an intake port and a" discharge port, afirstconduit connecting to the intake port of the circulating pump andadapted to be connected to the flowing stream, a

sample receiver, a piston member in said sample receiver,-asecondconduit connecting'the discharge :port of said circulating pumpto a lower end of saidfsample receiver, a thirdconduit connecting theintake port of said flow regulating pump to an upper end of said samplereceiver, a sample container, a fourth conduit connected 'to the lowerend'of said sample receiver and to said sample container, a fifthconduit connected to stream under a pressure of 1000 lbs. the checkvalve 29 will be set to deliver oil through conduit 5 into pipe line 24at a pressure of 1015 lbs. while the check valve 34 will deliver oilfrom the conduit 5 to the conduit 9 at a pressure of 1000 lbs.Similarly, the flow through conduit 1 into conduit 3 through check valve33 will be realized by setting the check valve to deliver oil at apressure of 1000 lbs. Under these conditions with the pipe line underpressure of 1000 lbs. the discharge from pump H is at 1015 lbs. anddischarge from pump I2 is at 1015 lbs. Of course, it is realized thatunder different conditions of a flowing stream that it will be desirableto the second conduit and adapted to discharge into the dischargeport'of said flow regulating pump and to said fifth conduit, and conduitmeans for introducing a clean liquid into said sample receiver abovesaid piston member connected to said third conduit and to a source ofsaid clean liquid.

2. Apparatus adapted for obtaining a sample from a flowing stream to besampled which comprises, in combination, a circulating pump and a flowregulating pump each having an intake port and a discharge port, a firstconduit connecting to the intake port of the circulating pump andadapted to be connected to the flowing stream, a sample receiver, apiston member in said sample receiver, a second conduit connecting thedischarge port of said circulating pump to a lower end of said samplereceiver, a third conduit connecting the intake port of said flowregulating pump to an upper end of said sample receiver, a samplecontainer, a fourth conduit connected to the lower end of said samplereceiver and to said sample container, a fifth conduit connected to thesecond conduit and adapted to discharge into said flowin stream, a sixthconduit connected to the discharge port of said flow regulating pump andto said fifth conduit, mixing and accumulating means arranged betweensaid sample receiver and container fluidly connected to said fourthconduit, and conduit means for introducing a clean liquid into saidsample receiver above said piston member connected to said third conduitand to a source of said clean liquid.

3. Apparatus adapted for obtaining a sample from a flowing stream to besampled which comprises, in combination, a circulating pump and a flowregulating pump each having an intake port and a discharge port, a firstconduit connecting to the intake port of the circulating pump andadapted to be connected to the flowing stream, a sample receiver, apiston member in said sample receiver, a second conduit connecting thedischarge port of said circulating pump to a lower end of said samplereceiver, a third conduit connectin the intake port of said flowregulating pump to an upper end of said sample receiver, a samplecontainer, a fourth conduit connected to the lower end of said samplereceiver and to saidsample container, a fifth conduit connected to thesecond conduit and adapted to discharge into said flowing stream, asixth conduit connected to the discharge portof said flow regulatingpump a ndsstm s;-id:.fith%a,condiiit; g filtering; '.-imeans,= r a.seventhaconduitwcormectingmaid-filtering; means and saidmhizdcoziduiteand eighth andmnth con duitS connecting-said,fi1te1zing:meanstotsaid fifth anisixthzcunduitsprespeobivelyg forintroducing; a filtered portion of-wsaidfioWizibstreaxnzint Sfliidsample receiver above saidipistommemberz 4.: Apparatus: adapted-sfomobtainingg-a sample from aifiowing s'treamtov bessample'd whichcome priseai in -'comb inatioh-,'a circulating plimp:ancha fiow regulating:puinp eachg hayingraniintake port and aidisphargaport; azfirstconduit connecting to -theyrintake pont :ofz thetci-rculating .'puml:i'a'nd agl amzed $0 be 'eonn'ectedsto the flowing stream, aJ-samplegeeei-ysen;,1a;piston@.memberfin said-sample reeeiveix a seoon lconduimconnecting wthl; disr e:\p nfloi-sa d i' cu a m -pumn rtwanlower end {ofsaicksample;receive1:;; a,;thirfl conduit-con meeting lit esintakevpd firQt:saidrs fl ware nlatin pugnnfioenmmw @hdppfysipid sample receivema dsQhaE- e ante coenwtedrvt r the dischargeiportofsaid flow regulatingpum'p sevenbh igonduitizcorinebtirigasaidifilterihg means and liad-thirdconduit; and eighth and ninth concuitslconriecting saidfilteriziQ-meansto said fifth and sixthconduitsg-respectivelyg for introducin afilteredapottion; oirsaid flowing zstreanm into said samp1e :re'ceivei-.i above .said piston member, flow resisting-means in.eachfiofisaidfifth; seventh, and eighth conduitsadaptedto allow flow atpredeterminedpressuremoneldirctiomand to resist it in another direction;and valveln'ieans in said sec- OIldf founthp;and-zmhthconduits' tocontrol-15h fimwtherebhreughw r 5 DAVID'H; MCKINNEY'L" a;WILLIAM-A'HARRIS:

